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enSun, 18 Mar 2018 20:58:58 +0100Mon, 05 Feb 2018 15:27:47 +0100http://content.presspage.com/clients/150_567.jpghttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/
144How To Spend Valentine's Day in One of Spain's Many Romantic Destinationshttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/how-to-spend-valentines-day-in-one-of-spains-many-romantic--destinations/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/how-to-spend-valentines-day-in-one-of-spains-many-romantic--destinations/Spain has endless options for a great Valentine’s Day destination, whether in the heart of a city or a coastal town, there are many unique locations to spend this special day with a loved one.

Segovia, Castile and León

For a fairy-tale Valentine’s Day in Segovia, first go to see the perfectly preserved first century AD Roman aqueduct, a truly impressive structure. Stop for a romantic lunch in the city centre, which has a charming Plaza Mayor, making sure to try Segovia’s delicacy: cochinillo or suckling pig, along with a glass of Ribero del Duero wine grown nearby. Sat atop a hill overlooking the city, Alcázar Segovia is said to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s castle. Finishing the day watching the sunset and with spectacular views over the city - it's the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Granada, Andalucía

Wake up early and get a glimpse of what life was like in the twelfth century at the beautiful Alhambra Palace and gardens. A blend of Moorish and Christian architecture, the magnificent grandeur makes for a magical romantic morning wandering palaces and their gardens. Grab a traditional Andalucían breakfast tostada con tomate – delicious garlic and tomato on toast with a drizzle of olive oil – beforehand, and afterwards head into the city centre still renowned for its culture of a free portion of tapas with a drink in most places. Spend the afternoon strolling through the winding, cobbled streets of Albayzín, finishing up at the Mirador de San Nicolas for a romantic sunset with a breathtaking view of the city. Granada is a special city to spend with a loved one.

Llanes, Asturias

With thirty-two white sand beaches and a backdrop of luscious green mountains, Llanes is the perfect place to spend Valentine’s Day. Wander to Gulpiyuri, a stunning inland beach, before enjoying a lunch accompanied by the region’s famous cider in the traditional fishing port town. Wander through the town to admire the beautiful Casas de Indianos – huge luxury villas built by those who made their fortune in The Indies in the 19th century – before finishing the romantic day on one of the many beaches. San Antolín and the Borizu peninsular offer unforgettable views of the Cantabrian Sea.

La Palma, Canary Islands

Start the day whale-watching in the north-west side of the island, where it’s possible to spot turtles and other marine life as well, before swimming in natural seawater pools. For the perfect end to the day, La Palma is renowned for stargazing thanks to the island’s high altitude, proximity to the equator, dark skies and restricted flight paths. Visit the El Roque de Los Muchachos observatory, home to the largest optical telescope in the world, or make a picnic and set up on the beach for the evening for a memorable Valentine’s Day.

]]>Spain,Travel,Andalucia,Asturias,Valentine's Day,La Palma,Canary Islands,Llanes,Granada,Segovia,Castile and Leon,RomanticMon, 05 Feb 2018 15:27:47 +0100A Spanish Christmas http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/a-spanish-christmas/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/a-spanish-christmas/This Friday 8th December, Spain celebrates the Day of The Immaculate Conception, a national holiday which unofficially marks the start of the Christmas season. Christmas in Spain is full of tradition. Here are four of the best: El Gordo – Meaning ‘The Fat One’, El Gordo is the Christmas Lottery and a fundamental part of the Christmas build-up in Spain. Pretty much everyone in Spain buys a ticket for El Gordo and families and friends gather around the television on 22nd December to see if they have won. You can literally feel the excitement in the air for Europe’s biggest lottery.

Nochebuena – Christmas Eve in Spanish is Nochebuena, a time for families to come together to enjoy the most elaborate meal of the Christmas period. The basic rule of thumb is to eat ‘well’ and the meal will start late (around 10pm) and often run on until well after midnight. Although some Spaniards enjoy ‘pavo trufado de Navidad’ (Christmas Turkey stuffed with mushroom truffles), seafood and roasts such as lamb or suckling pig are also popular. The meal will have a number of courses starting with tapas or appetisers and will often include an abundance of Spanish meats, cheeses and pâtés. Dessert will almost always include turrón, a sweet nougat of Moorish origins made of toasted almonds and washed down with strong coffee or a small glass of Spanish brandy.

Although Father Christmas does pay a visit, he will probably leave one gift as the main presents are brought by the three kings on 6th January.

NocheVieja – News Year’s Eve in Spain is called NocheVieja and again families will often join together to enjoy another big feast. The cities and towns are decked with colour and Christmas decorations, creating a magical atmosphere. At midnight, families and friends will head to the streets to take part in the tradition of eating 12 grapes, one on each of the 12 chimes as the clock strikes midnight. Legion has it that a year of good luck and prosperity will be granted to those who manage to eat all the grapes before the last chime.

One of the most atmospheric places to enjoy New Year’s Eve is the Puerta del Sol plaza in Madrid. Thousands of people gather here to watch the clock strike midnight and the head to the many bars and nightclubs to celebrate the New Year into the early hours of the morning.

Los Reyes Magos – On 6th January, Spain celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany when the Three Kings arrived in Bethlehem. For Spanish children this is the most exciting day of the year when they wake up to find that Los Reyes Magos (the Three Kings/Wise Men) have left gifts for them. The Three Kings parade through the streets of cities, towns and villages handing out sweets and small gifts to children, accompanied by colourful floats and music. Alcoi in Alicante holds one of the most impressive parades and is known as the oldest in Spain.

]]>Travel,Christmas,Spain,Spanish,Tourist,Office,El,Gordo,Nochebuena,NocheVieja,Los,Reyes,MagosWed, 29 Nov 2017 14:48:00 +0100#SpaininMYheart: Is there a place in your heart for Spain? http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spaininmyheart-is-there-a-place-in-your-heart-for-spain/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spaininmyheart-is-there-a-place-in-your-heart-for-spain/The Spanish Tourist Office has launched a new digital campaign entitled #SpaininMYheart, allowing fans of the destination to become digital ambassadors.

The Spanish Tourist Office has launched a new digital campaign entitled #SpaininMYheart, allowing fans of the destination to become digital ambassadors.

Throughout the month of April, the Spanish Tourist Office is offering the opportunity for anyone with a connection to Spain to win a Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II digital camera.

The Spanish are generally described as friendly, passionate, warm and welcoming… If you are a fan of the Spanish culture and way of life, be sure to share pictures of your holiday memories or experiences in Spain via Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, tagging #SpaininMYheart. Every upload counts as one entry, so the more images you post, the better the chances of winning!

The competition will run from Monday 3-30 April the lucky winner will be announced via DM on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram. For full Terms & Conditions, please visit here.

The Spanish Tourist Office and partners will also be hosting a Twitter Chat on the top destinations and experiences in Spain, so if you’re in need of holiday inspiration, make sure you follow @Spain_inUK & #SpaininMYheart and log in on April 6th at 3.30 pm to join the conversation and learn from the experts.

Spain is the top short-haul destination for Brits. The country is a safe and family-friendly destination with outstanding family resorts, experiences and attractions. The destination boasts a superb luxury offering as well as variety and quality for budget travellers.

]]>Spain,Spanish,Tourist,Travel,gastronomy,#spain,attraction,Balearic Islands,campaign,Canary Islands,Destination,Europe,holiday,holidaysFri, 31 Mar 2017 15:55:39 +0200New flight routes to Spain in 2017http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/new-flight-routes-to-spain-in-2017/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/new-flight-routes-to-spain-in-2017/As a record 75.3 million British tourists visited Spain last year, airlines are opening even more routes throughout 2017. These new flights will help further visits to the popular holiday cities as well as the more undiscovered areas throughout Spain:

EasyJet is launching a variety of flights from the UK, including flights to Murcia from Southend airport, as well as to Granada from Manchester in July. With Murcia being known as the Europe's orchard due to its fruit and flower production, and Granada’s beautiful medieval architecture, they both offer something new to the British traveller. EasyJet are also opening a new route to Menorca from Stanstead airport from June.

Iberia Express is joining other airlines by launching a new flight to the popular holiday destination of Madrid from Cardiff at the beginning of April, opening up the Spanish city to Welsh travellers.

Ryanair, the Irish low-fares airline, has launched its record Edinburgh summer schedule for 2017 to Barcelona, Ibiza, and Vigo. New routes to Valencia will also operate form Glasgow, with Scots also benefitting from increased services Glasgow to Malaga and Alicante. The newly launched Birmingham winter 2017 schedule includes a six-times-a-week service to Alicante, daily flights to Barcelona and five flights a day to Malaga, offering 99 weekly flights to Spain in total.

Jet2.com has announced new flights from Birmingham to 15 Spanish destinations during the summer, including Alicante, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Majorca, Malaga and Menorca. The first flights launch at the beginning of April to Malaga and Faro. The airline has also included new direct flights from London Stanstead to 21 destinations during the summer period, including Lanzarote, Malaga, Alicante, Ibiza, Menorca and Majorca.

Finnair is to add a new route to Alicante, as well as to Ibiza and Menorca for the summer 2017 season.

Flybe has announced their new summer flights from London Southend Airport to the Catalonian city of Reus, launching on May 10th. The new thrice-weekly flights open up a lesser known area of Spain to Brits looking to explore the Costa Dorada.

British Airways is to open seven new routes from Manchester airport for the summer holidays. Starting in May, the direct flights will include Alicante, Malaga, Ibiza and Palma.

With regular new flight routes opening up new and existing destinations throughout Spain, we look forward to welcoming even more British holidaymakers this year and showcasing everything Spain has to offer.

]]>Spain,Spanish,Tourist,Travel,tourism,Flight,Flights,leisure,News,holiday,holidaysWed, 22 Mar 2017 13:39:18 +0100SPAIN, A COUNTRY BRIEFING AT WTM 2015http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spain-a-country-briefing-at-wtm-2015/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spain-a-country-briefing-at-wtm-2015/Enrique Ruiz de Lera, director of the Spanish Tourist Office, Simon Calder, senior travel editor at The Independent, and Mark Tanzer, executive director of ABTA, discuss some of the many issues the travel industry currently faces.

Key topics discussed include the volume of visitors to Spain vs their contribution to the economy, transforming Spain’s tourism appeal away from sunshine and beaches, plans to transform Magaluf into a desirable destination and how unrest elsewhere in the world affects tourism in Spain.

]]>World Travel Market,WTM,Spain,Sharing Economy,Economy,Tourism Tax,Magaluf,Tourism,Holiday,Sun,Beach,Sand,ValueWed, 18 Nov 2015 12:53:35 +0100WHAT'S NEW IN SPAIN FOR 2015http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/whats-new-in-spain-for-2015/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/whats-new-in-spain-for-2015/Spain continues to be Britain’s favourite tourist destination and 2014 has been no exception. Over the coming year the destination is set to continue to expand and evolve, with new cultural hotspots and trails, exciting hotel launches and flight routes, and a host of original festivals and events.

HOTEL NEWS

Ayre Hotel Group to launch Madrid Atocha property

Palladium Hotel Group is expanding in Madrid with a new property under its urban brand, Ayre Hoteles, scheduled to open at the end of 2015. The new four-star 215-room hotel will be a conversion of a building that faces Atocha station, one of the city’s major transportation hubs. At just a few metres from Madrid’s main station and within walking distance of the best city attractions, its strategic location will be ideal for visitors arriving by train, who can then explore the city on foot. www.ayrehoteles.com

New hotels to open in Valencia to suit all budgets

Valencia-based Ad Hoc hotel group is also opening a third hotel in the city, which will be named the Ad Hoc Carmen and is due to open at the end of 2014. The property is set to offer excellent value for the family and group travel markets. www.adhochoteles.com

New luxury hotel to open in Palma de Mallorca

Scheduled to open in March 2015, Hotel Sant Francesc is an exciting conversion of an old manor house into a luxury boutique hotel in the historic centre of Palma de Mallorca. The 43-room chic urban bolthole, which will form part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World™, sets out to retain the beauty of the former building and blends graceful simplicity with a distinctly Spanish style. Its five-star facilities comprise a rooftop terrace with a pool, patio bar, garden restaurant, gym and spa. www.slh.com

URSO Hotel & Spa in Madrid launches “The Table By…”

This pop-up restaurant of sorts is an entirely unique concept on Madrid’s dining scene and complements the innovative and newly opened URSO Hotel & Spa perfectly. “The Table By…” will see a rotating schedule of six well-established and up and coming young Spanish chefs from different corners of the country take up temporary residency in the hotel restaurant to re-create their own restaurants in the heart of Madrid. As each restaurant arrives, everything will change – the design, the concept and the menu. www.thetableby.es

The Grand Palladium White Island Resort & Spa will open in spring 2015 under Palladium Hotel Group’s five-star portfolio. The new hotel will be a transformation of the former Fiesta Club Palm Beach into a 430-room luxury hotel, boasting ultra-modern décor and a Mediterranean design. When combined with neighbouring Grand Palladium Palace Ibiza Resort & Spa, the two hotels will create a new complex, the largest in Ibiza. www.palladiumhotelgroup.com

CAMPAIGN NEWS

Andalucía launches new marketing campaign

The Andalucía tourist board has launched an exciting new brand campaign. Under the strapline “Your better you”, the popular Spanish region strives to refresh and reinvigorate its image by consolidating the emotional and experiential facets of the destination. The campaign highlights Andalucia’s key points of difference, focusing on the following themes; emotion, fun, spontaneity and optimism. The campaign comprises a film aimed at both national and international tourists, as well as an aggressive print, outdoor, broadcast and digital advertising strategy. www.andalucia.org.

CULTURE NEWS

Pompidou Centre to open in Malaga

The first ever “Pop up Pompidou” will open its doors in the city of Malaga in spring 2015. The new Pompidou Centre will be the first international branch of the French museum of the same name and is scheduled to stay for five years in the Cubo building, a cultural centre built on the city’s harbour. The Malaga Pompidou Centre will comprise over 6,000 square metres of exhibition space housing both permanent and temporary exhibitions including works by Picasso, Tàpies, Ernst, Attia, Bacon, Magritte and Frida Kahlo. www.malagaturismo.com

Extremadura launches the “jamón trail”

Gourmands look out – this could be the itinerary for you! Inspired by the popularity of Spain’s very special ham, the Extremadura Tourist Board has launched a new touristic route that allows foodies to indulge in the best of the region’s ham. Uniting the Sierras de Badajoz and the region of Montánchez-Tamuja in Cáceres, the “Dehesa de Extremadura” gives tourists access to the key jamón producers in the region, and in addition to many different tastings, they will learn how the jamón is produced, visit the drying cellars, learn how to cut ham like a pro and see how the production of this ever-important ingredient is valued in the local ecosystems. Along the way, visitors will stay in charming towns, go walking, horse riding and cycling among the grasslands and slow down to the leisurely Extremeño pace of life. www.dehesa-extremadura.com/index.php/en/

El Hierro declared UNESCO Geopark

The Canary Island of El Hierro has been declared a Geopark by UNESCO following a successful application by Spain’s Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism in collaboration with the local council, making it the 60th member of the European Geoparks Network. UNESCO granted the title thanks to the island’s Biosphere Reserve and six protected natural areas that cover 60% of its land mass, including the Integrated Marine Reserve – Mar de las Calmas. www.geoparqueelhierro.es

Irrisarri Land, a new concept of rural tourism in Navarra

Irrisarri Land, which opened its doors this year, is home to the longest zip line in Spain, a pendulum swing and a 140 metre-long rope bride, as well as a bike park, adventure routes, downhill tracks and even a heliport for those who wish to take to the skies and get a real bird’s eye view of the region. A truly sustainable destination, the park has been designed with the utmost sensitivity for the local area and has been built using only local materials, such as wood, iron and stone. This is the perfect location for a fun-filled family weekend in Northern Spain. http://www.irrisarriland.com/

Culture on the Basque Coast

As well as exploring the beautiful towns and indulging in the excellent food for which it is famous for, a trip along the Basque Coast can also incorporate masses of art and culture thanks to a new network of museums that are facilitating travel for art lovers in the region. This unique network comprises a total of 40 cultural establishments from Bilbao and its surrounds in the west along to Irun in the east. The trail visits iconic cities such as San Sebastián, as well as taking in charming fishing villages such as Lekeitio, Bermeo and Bakio, and historic landmarks such as the town of Gernika. Along the way visitors can delve into art galleries, cultural museums, bird centres and aquariums, and really gain an understanding of what makes this captivating coastline what it is today. www.losmuseosdelacostavasca.com

TRANSPORT NEWS

British Airways launches new flights to Bilbao from spring 2015

British Airways has announced the launch of a brand new double daily service between London Heathrow and the vibrant city of Bilbao. The route launches on 29 March 2015 and will depart twice daily at 9.20am and 16.05pm, returning at 13.05pm and 19.40pm. www.ba.com

Monarch Airlines announces new flights to Alicante for summer 2015

Monarch Airlines has announced the launch of a new route from Leeds Bradford Airport to Alicante for summer 2015. The new route forms part of the airline’s summer schedule which features flights to ten different sun and city destinations across Europe and 28 frequencies per week. Alicante was one of just two new destinations for the airline to add for summer 2015. www.monarch.co.uk

Murcia launches Tourist Bus

The city of Murcia has just launched its first ever tourist bus that takes visitors round the highlights of the old town and the El Carmen and San Andres neighbourhood. The bus follows a 45 minute, 8km route through the city with an audio guide picking out the key sights and historical landmarks available in 10 different languages. The bus has six different stops; Murcia Town Hall, the Salzillo Museum, shopping district, Floridablanca gardens, La Merced and Gran Via-Alfonso X. Tickets are hop-on, hop-off and are valid for 24 hours. The city estimates taking 20,000 tourists on the bus in its first year. www.turismodemurcia.es

Discover Spain for less with RENFE’s Spain Pass

Spain’s pioneering rail network counts the UK as its most important international market, accounting for 17% of ticket sales. Foreign visitors planning to visit Spain can take advantage of the RenfeSpain Pass - a product only available for foreign residents that allows travellers to take between four and 12 trips on High Speed Long Distance trains for an extremely competitive price. The pass also includes lots of added value, such as discounts on entry to museums and tourist cards. www.renfe.com

British Airways launches new flights to Fuerteventura for winter 2014

British Airways has launched a new short-haul route which will run from London Gatwick to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. Flights are now on sale for the new route, which commences on 13 December as part of their winter 2014 programme. The twice-weekly service will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays and allow tourists to visit the second biggest Canary Island direct from London Gatwick. www.ba.com

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

The Canary Islands hosts pop-up London art exhibition

A unique way of illustrating the diverse beauty of the Canary Islands, ‘On the draw, an illustrated journey to the Canary Islands’ is a six night pop-up art exhibition, taking place in Canvas Studios in Shoreditch. Featuring art work from seven well-known illustrators from across the globe, each piece represents the distinct personal views and landscapes of the Canary Islands documented during the artists’ respective one week stays on the islands. The exhibition opens on 3 November until 9 November. http://www.onthedraw.travel/

Tenerife launches its first walking festival

Tenerife’s highly anticipated Walking Festival will take place from 10-15 March 2015 and aims to showcase the Canary Island’s varied landscape and spring-like year-round temperature (an average of 23ºC), all of which make it the perfect place for hiking. Visitors can traverse over 1,500 km of paths on walks suitable for all ages and levels. The four-day event, which takes place in the north of the island in Puerto de la Cruz, is open to everyone and participants are required to pay a €20 joining fee to access a welcome pack, daily transport to each trail, a wristband that gives discounts in local shops, restaurants and museums and free nightly entertainment. www.tenerifewalkingfestival.com

Bilbao to host first UCLG summit in 2015

The UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments) has chosen Bilbao as the host city of the first ever UCLG Culture Summit in 2015, in which over 250 leaders and international culture experts are expected to attend. The summit will be celebrated between January and April 2015 and Bilbao was chosen as the ideal host city given culture’s vital role in the city’s development strategy since the early 90’s when it began its major economic and urban transformation. www.bilbaointernational.com

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Balearic Islands to launch “Virtual Host”

2015 will see the Balearic Islands become the first destination in the world with a “Virtual Host” to guide and accompany visitors, residents and businesspeople, giving them the information they need when they need it. This innovative information system will enable visitors to access tailored information, make travel plans or hone their itineraries and share their experiences on social media. Different visitors will be served up different content depending on their interests and according to their profile, nationality and the time of year they plan to visit, ensuring that winter visitors are just as well catered for as summer ones. The technology will be launched in its entirety during FITUR at the end of January 2015.

]]>spain,news,tourism,spanish,travelTue, 18 Nov 2014 17:08:47 +0100TURESPAÑA SCOOPS WORLD TRAVEL LEADERS AWARD http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/turespaa-scoops-world-travel-leaders-award/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/turespaa-scoops-world-travel-leaders-award/Turespaña (TourSpain), the official promotional body for Spanish tourism, has won the prestigious World Travel Market 2014 World Travel Leaders award in recognition of its achievements in Spanish tourism. UK director of the Spanish Tourist Board, Enrique Ruiz received the coveted award from the editor of Hosteltur, Joaquín Molina at the WTM World Travel Leaders Awards ceremony.

The awards provide WTM’s official media partners – representing key travel industry media around the world – an excellent platform to congratulate and recognise those companies and individuals that have made significant and groundbreaking contributions to travel and tourism in their region or sector.

Three nominations from each of WTM’s media partners were judged in September by a panel of three, consisting of an independent body, a representative of WTM and the relevant media partner.

TourSpain is the national body in charge of Spain’s global marketing and is responsible for creating value for the country’s tourism sector.

It was created in 1984 as the National Tourism Promotion Institute and in 1991 was renamed the Spanish Tourism Institute- Turespaña. It has always strived to maintain professional criteria and its board includes independent business professionals and representatives from private tourism companies.

TourSpain carries out its activity abroad through a network of Spanish Tourism Offices which depend on Spain’s embassies and consulates. There are currently 33 overseas tourism offices, which act as information and marketing hubs and as business platforms for the industry.

Reed Travel Exhibitions, senior director for World Travel Market, Simon Press said: “This award represents not just what TourSpain has done for Spain’s tourism market, but the fact that it represents the industry in one of the leading destinations in Europe.“Spain has responded to the changing demands of consumers over the last 30 years and transformed itself from primarily a beach charter destination to offering a wide variety of cultural, culinary and historic experiences.”

For winter 2014/2015 (October – March), Spain will consolidate its position as tourism leader, predicting that one in every three British tourists will choose Spain as a tourism destination.

The United Kingdom continues to be Spain’s strongest inbound travel market, with more than 12.3 million UK tourists (+ 5.6% yoy) from January to September, representing a total tourism expenditure of 10.4 billion euros (+6.9% yoy). In 2013, Spain welcomed a total of 14.3 million British visitors.

Spain’s minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, speaks at WTM today and highlights the enormous loyalty of British visitors to Spain, with 85% visiting more than once, and 42% having visited 10 times.

]]>The Spanish minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, participated today in the 35th edition of World Travel Market (WTM) which is celebrated in London this week welcoming 136 country exhibitors, more than 50.000 tourism professionals and 3.000 media from around the world.

During the fair, Soria underlined the strength of the UK tourism market to Spain. The UK maintains its position as the strongest inbound tourism market to Spain and for 2014, a total of 15 million UK visitors is expected, based on the current statistics.

In 2013, Spain welcomed 14.3 million UK tourism arrivals, representing 23% of all international arrivals to Spain and 12 billion euros in expenditure. 2014 has seen significant increases both in terms of UK tourism expenditure, (+ 7% yoy), and UK visitor numbers (+5.6% yoy).

The image of Spain as a secure tourism destination, its evolution as a destination ‘beach plus’ (with an offer of sun and beach, plus a range of complimentary activities), the revival of demand to pre-crisis levels, and the indisputable leadership of Spain as a tourism destination in summer, capturing 36.2% of the UK tourism market, and in winter, 33.4% respectively, reaffirms the loyalty of British visitors, with 85% visiting more than once, and 42% having visited 10 times.

For the winter months, the majority of package bookings to Spain, will include the Canary Islands ( forecasted at 25.3%), reflecting the additional airline capacity to the Spanish archipelago, which welcomed an additional 45.037 seats in 2014.

Soria highlighted that throughout his time in office, “the policy of tourism diversification, particularly in the UK market, is attracting visitors to experience the immense diversity of the country.”

The success of the Spanish tourism offering, is based on a successful mix of quality, and a varied tourism offering including culture, gastronomy, sports, leisure etc., offered throughout the year.

The promotion via Turespaña (the Spanish Tourist Office), follows a marketing strategy designed as a result of a public opinion survey, executed by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, which looks at Spain beyond a sun and beach destination, identifying new reasons to visit Spain, out of the high season.

The Spanish participation at World Travel Market consists of an exhibitor space hosted by the Institute of Tourism of Spain (Turespaña), featuring 1.001 metres squared of stand space, 30 companies and 14 tourism destinations within Spain, made up of Spain’s regions (or autonomous communities), local councils/ tourism bodies, official entities, hotel chains, travel agencies, airlines etc.

The UK chooses Spain once again as its most favourite destination

The UK continues to be Spain’s strongest tourism market and the main destination for British holidaymakers, as illustrated by the tourism statistics from the first nine months of the year.

Between January and September 2014, Spain welcomed 12.358.931 British tourists, representing a 5.6% yoy increase and a 23.6% share of all international visitors.

The tourism expenditure for this period, reached 10.4 billion euros, with UK visitors spending 6.9% more than the same period in 2013, representing 20.6% of the total tourism spend. These statistics mark record highs since the start of the statistical analysis of tourism movement across borders, created by Frontur for the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, which has been created since 2007.

Looking at the type of travel, between January and September 2014, 7.898.273 (63.9%) of British arrivals chose to travel to Spain without a package (+4.8%), whilst 4.460.658 tourists opted for a package holiday, (+6.9%).

For the first nine months of the year, UK visitors represented 109.350.583 room nights, up 6.6% with 16.3% of holidays lasting between 16 and 30 nights and 9.5% of stays, lasting between 2 and 3 days. Stays between 8 and 15 nights grew by 6.4% which underlined last year’s trend of longer duration stays.

123 new routes between Spain and the UK in 2014

In 2014, 123 new flight routes have been added to the flight network between Spain and the UK, operating from 29 British airports to 28 Spanish airports.

The first nine months of 2014, show record capacity rates for flights to Spain from the UK, based on the fact that the average capacity is 85%, and for this period, it was 87.7%.

UK tourism promotion of Spain

Throughout 2014 and as part of Turespaña’s 2012-2016 Strategic Marketing Plan, the Spanish Tourist Office in London has chosen 10 primary products in which it has focused its ‘sun and beach plus’ marketing efforts including urban, cultural, trails/routes, gastronomy, rural and nature, golf, MICE, learning holidays and special interest holidays.

In total, the Spanish Tourist Office in London has carried out 241 tourism promotional activities, including 81 press trips, 48 travel agent trips, 22 events, 30 broadcast projects, and 56 marketing and communication actions, targeted at the final consumer and the media. These activities have so far generated an equivalent advertising rate in excess of 9.3 million euros (7.4 million pounds). In addition, a Spain travel guide was created with UK publication Monocle, as well as a gastronomic guide with Food & Travel magazine.

For the last three years, the strategic focus of the Spanish Tourist Office in London is online marketing and content, which led to the development of an integrated social ecosystem, which encompasses the dedicated UK portal, a Social New Hub, targeted at media and bloggers and a growing diversification of social networks (with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), which have seen significant organic growth and a strong level of interaction.

In line with this, Spain also launched its own digital magazine, ‘SPN, inspired by Spain’, which is pioneering in the travel industry through its sections including travel, art, music, gastronomy, fashion and travel, showing a more modern and less conventional side of Spain. (www.spnmagazine.com).

From November 2014, the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, via Turespaña will carry out a promotional campaign via the UK’s main online channels, with visual imagery from the campaign ‘I Need Spain’, adapted especially for online media, with the objective of reinforcing and stabilising the Spain’s position as tourism leader.

]]>WTM,World Travel Market,Spain,José Manuel Soria,London,Tourism,SPNTue, 04 Nov 2014 11:30:18 +0100JOIN SPAIN AND ITS REGIONS AT WORLD TRAVEL MARKET http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/join-spain-and-its-regions-at-world-travel-market/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/join-spain-and-its-regions-at-world-travel-market/The UK’s biggest travel trade show is just around the corner and from Monday 3 November Spain and its regions will be joining the rest of the world at London’s ExCel Centre with a number of enticing themed events and press conferences for travel media, travel trade, travel bloggers and tour operator partners.
]]>The Spanish Tourist Office (TURESPAÑA) will be exhibiting at World Travel Market on stands EMI550/ EM1500.

Below is a round-up of all Spain’s World Travel Markets events and how to get involved!

Join Elias Bendodo, President of the Málaga-Costa del Sol Tourist Board for a breakfast press briefing to hear about new developments in the Costa del Sol - the Spanish region which includes popular holiday destinations such as Málaga, Marbella, Torremolinos, Mijas and Ronda.

Places are open to WTM media and bloggers. To confirm a spot, please email josies@hillsbalfour.com or call 020 7367 0958

Join the representatives of the Balearic Islands for a tourism update and to find out about new developments on the islands.

Limited places are available open to registered WTM media and bloggers. To apply for a spot, please emailpress.london@tourspain.es

Tuesday 4 November

*Presentation by Gilbert and George followed by regional food tasting12:45 – 13.30Place: ExCeL EM 1550

Following their successful exhibition ‘LONDON PICTURES’ which was displayed at Casal Solleric in Palma de Mallorca in 2013, artistic due Gilbert and George will host a one off presentation on the Balearic Islands stand, followed by a tasting of typical Balearic cuisine.

Limited places are open to registered WTM media and bloggers. To apply for a spot, please email spain@lotus-uk.co.uk or call 02079537470.

A one-off pop up event created by London’s most esteemed pop-up company Shuttlecock, transporting guests to the southern region of Spain to enjoy typical Andalucían cuisine, and introducing them to Andalucía’s new campaign entitled ‘Your best you’.

Limited places are available to travel and food media, freelance journalists who specialise in travel, food a/o travel bloggers and tour operator partners that sell holidays to Andalucía. To apply for a place, please email your details topress.london@tourspain.es

Join Palma de Mallorca for the launch of Passion for Running, an exciting new product which aims to raise Palma’s profile for sports tourism and put the city on the map as the ideal destination for athletes and running aficionados. Pedro Homar from the Fundación de Turismo Palma de Mallorca 365 will be joined by special guest speaker, Kathrine Switzer, one of running’s most iconic figures, who challenged the all-male tradition of the Boston Marathon and became the first woman to run as a registered entry in 1967.

Limited places are available to travel and sports media, freelance journalists who specialise in travel or sport, travel a/o sports bloggers and operators that sell Palma de Mallorca. To apply for a place, please emailMaria@lotus-uk.co.ukor call 020795374670.

-Ends-

For more information on Spain as a holiday destination, please visit our stand during WTM or visit www.spain.info.

]]>Palma,Palma de Mallorca,Spain,World Travel Market,Press Conference,Media events,Breakfast,Briefings,Balearic,IslandsFri, 24 Oct 2014 18:59:48 +0200THE SPANISH TOURIST OFFICE AND MONOCLE MAGAZINE LAUNCH THE 2015 SPAIN TRAVEL GUIDEhttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/the-spanish-tourist-office-and-monocle-magazine-launch-the-2015-spain-travel-guide/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/the-spanish-tourist-office-and-monocle-magazine-launch-the-2015-spain-travel-guide/Monocle Magazine, in conjunction with the Spanish Tourist Office, has just launched the new comprehensive Monocle Spain Travel Guide, which aims to give readers an insight into Spain from innovative new vantage points. Written by Monocle’s seasoned travel experts, the guide explores how to do Spain in many different ways - on skis, by boat, train, bike and car, or on foot.

The travel guide highlights Spain’s fantastic offering for keen skiers, delving into some off the radar Spanish towns which offer exceptional experiences. The best ski resorts, hotels, après ski entertainment, food and best ski schools are also included.

The Spain by Train section covers routes for food lovers, culture enthusiasts and those interested in unique designs and landmarks. With fun and useful facts such as the no luggage size limit on certain trains and best restaurants to make a pit stop at; this section is an essential guide to exploring Spain’s vast train network.

With some of the best roads in Europe, a road trip across Spain is often a popular choice. The Monocle guide takes readers on a route along the Northern coast through ‘Green Spain’ with the best places to stop for historic sights, must-see shops and restaurants. In turn, the Spain by Bike section gives cyclists the tools to explore the 1,800km of disused train tracks, ‘vías verdes’ with routes suitable for all cyclist skill levels.

The Spain Travel Guide also covers the best ways to enjoy Spain’s warm waters and explore the country’s wealth of culture and heritage by boat. Through a mix of island hopping and a cruise along the south coast, the guide features some of the best beaches and sites to explore. If readers prefer travelling by foot, this guide ensures that the best exploration spots are not missed and even the seasoned traveller can find something unique and suited to their taste, from gourmet cuisine to the rich history that lines the streets.

Within the pages of the Spain Travel Guide lies an abundance of travel tips and advice for exploring Spain’s old cathedrals, the diverse Paradores, the best beaches and mouth-watering cuisine.

]]>Monocle Magazine,Spain,Travel guide,Ski,Spanish Tourist OfficeWed, 08 Oct 2014 17:17:31 +0200POSADA TERRA SANTA OPENS IN PALMA DE MALLORCAhttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/posada-terra-santa-opens-in-palma-de-mallorca/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/posada-terra-santa-opens-in-palma-de-mallorca/Posada Terra Santa, a charming boutique hotel in the vibrant city of Palma de Mallorca, has just opened its doors to guests offering a captivating fusion of 15thcentury charm with state of the art technology.

Located at the heart of the Mediterranean island famed for its spectacular beaches and picturesque countryside, Posada Terra Santa serves as a great base to explore both Palma city and surrounds in style. The mansion is set in the historic quarter of Palma de Mallorca and is just minutes from the commercial and gastronomic centre of the city. Once a grand residence for local noblemen, Posada Terra Santa retains the classic architectural style of a traditional Mallorcan home punctuated with lots of lovely modern touches.

The boutique hotel has 26 unique rooms and boasts an atmospheric ground floor living room with dining areas, complete with the exposed 15thcentury Gothic arches. Other relaxation areas include a roof terrace and heated pool, which overlooks the Church of San Francisco and Palma's old town. Inside, a heated indoor swimming pool can be rented out privately along with its treatment rooms, which offer a range of relaxing, post sightseeing treatments.

The accommodation is great for a weekend getaway or romantic break, and guests can take advantage of a chauffeur service to and from the airport, as well as a champagne and rose delivery and in-room spa treatments.

Rooms at the Posada Terra Santa start from £158 per room per night, including breakfast and free high speed Wi-Fi.

]]>Mallorca,spain,boutique,hotel,luxury,holiday,travelWed, 28 May 2014 11:21:57 +0200EXPLORE THE BEST OF SPANISH GASTRONOMY WITH NEW GOURMET INSIDER'S TOURhttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/explore-the-best-of-spanish-gastronomy-with-new-gourmet-insiders-tour/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/explore-the-best-of-spanish-gastronomy-with-new-gourmet-insiders-tour/Insider's Madrid and Iberian Wine Tours have teamed up to put their in-depth knowledge of Spain and its produce into an exciting week-long tour. From 22 to 29 March 2015, the Gourmet Insider’s Spain Tour will take visitors on a culinary journey through some of the country’s most beautiful scenery. Hosted by Joanna Wivell from Insider’s Madrid and Jeremy Shaw from Iberian Wine Tours, the grand tour will start and finish in Madrid, taking guests through the diverse landscape of Castile and Leon, Extremadura and Andalucía, whilst sampling the traditional dishes of the regions along the way.

Kicking off with a meeting at the five-star Palacio de Tepa with a gourmet tour in the capital, visitors will engage in the culinary sport of tapas hopping by exploring the city’s many lively bars. From Madrid, the tour journeys to the medieval town of Avila and on to Fuentesauco, home of one of Spain's most famous winemakers, Alejandro Fernandez. Guests will enjoy a lunch prepared at Dehesa la Granja and, if Alejandro is around, he might even join them! The tour goes on to visit La Setera, known for its wine and goat's cheese production where visitors will enjoy a traditional lunch at O Mirandes. Guests go on to explore Guijuelo, where the focus is on Simon Martin, producer of Spanish jamón; before continuing to La Zorra to sample the delicious wines of the region. The tour then visits World Heritage Site, Merida, before stopping at the Santa Marina winery on the way to the Andalucian city of Seville. A visit to Jerez de la Frontera is one of the highlights of this tour and guests can discover the methods and history of sherry production in the home of this very traditional tipple. Guests are treated to a spectacular traditional Flamenco show, and on the last night, a lavish meal at two-Michelin starred, El Club Allard.

Along the way, guests will have the chance to explore the regions and discover their history, as well as resting their heads in some of the finest accommodation and stunning palaces.

The price of the tour is £2,150 per person, and £1,995 if booked before 31 May, with a single supplement of £350. The price includes all accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, visits and tastings at wineries, expert tour guides, six lunches and three dinners, all wine at meals and local transport. Flights, insurance and tips are not included in the tour price.

]]>gourmet,spain,tour,new,travel,wine,tasting,spanish,tapasFri, 09 May 2014 12:23:30 +0200VUELING AND SONY LAUNCH WORLD'S FIRST WEARABLE BOARDING PASS http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/vueling-and-sony-launch-worlds-first-wearable-boarding-pass/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/vueling-and-sony-launch-worlds-first-wearable-boarding-pass/Gone are the days of double and triple checking you have your boarding pass - Spanish airline, Vueling, has teamed up with Sony to create a boarding pass application in a smartwatch. This innovative app allows Vueling passengers to carry their boarding pass and all their flight information on their wrists.

Vueling, headquartered in Barcelona, has been working with Sony to develop the app which uses a 2D barcode, exclusive to Sony’s SmartWatch 2, and will be available to download from the Google Play store at the end of this month, placing Vueling and Sony at the forefront of travel technology.

The Spanish airline, founded in 2004, serves over 100 destinations in Africa, Asia and Europe, including direct flights from London (Gatwick / Heathrow) to Barcelona, La Coruña and Bilbao, from Cardiff to Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga and Mallorca, and from Edinburgh to Barcelona.

]]>vueling,sony,smartwatch,pass,technology,news,wearable,airlines,travelThu, 27 Mar 2014 16:33:01 +0100Experience Spanish luxury like no other with Greatnesshttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/experience-spanish-luxury-like-no-other-with-greatness/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/experience-spanish-luxury-like-no-other-with-greatness/Greatness is a very special network of historic Spanish properties that offers travellers the chance to visit and rest their heads in the most unique places, from grand palaces to hidden castles, while discovering the lesser known corners of Spain.

Greatness was founded by Isabel Benjumea and Gonzalo Guinea and is aimed at luxury travellers wanting to experience the epitome of Spanish heritage. The company specialises in sourcing unique, historic properties for a truly once in a lifetime experience. Exclusive properties that are available to visit include the Pazo de Oca, the 16th century Palace of "La Granjilla de la Fresnada" where Philip II resided, and the Los Hornillos Palace, where Nicole Kidman was filmed in the making of "The Others".

The properties are available to hire for an exclusive event or the most unforgettable overnight stays, and can be explored by guests with expert tour guides. This exciting concept offers tourists and locals alike an insight into the beauty and history that has allowed Spain to be recognised as the second country with the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

There are 30 properties included in the network so far, including private houses, palaces and castles. Entry prices for the properties range from 3,000€ to 5,000€, with owners of the properties reinvesting 30% to 50% of the profits back into heritage preservation in Spain.

IFEMA sees over 2.3 million business visitors to trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses in Madrid each year, many of whom are keen to make the most of their trip and experience a bit more of the city. IFEMA Plus was set up to make it easier for business visitors and exhibitors to get some added value when visiting Madrid by taking in some of the top culture, shopping and entertainment hotspots when the conference centres close their doors.

The programme has given rise to the launch of the Madrid Shopping Bus, set up in collaboration with Madrid Shopping Tour and Innova Tax Free. The Madrid Shopping Bus takes visitors direct from IFEMA - Feria de Madrid to the city’s hottest shopping spots for just €5 per person, departing at 18pm and 19.30pm. Associated shops offer special services and VIP treatment to customers with Shopping Bus passes and the service has Spanish, English, Chinese and Russian speaking staff.

The new bus service offers two different routes which take in some of Madrid’s most exclusive shopping areas. The first route explores the boutiques of the Salamanca district, while the second takes shoppers to Las Rozas Village for outlet shopping.

]]>ifema,madrid,shopping,bus,shops,calle,serrano,city,break,business,travel,conferences,trade,fairs,tourismFri, 29 Nov 2013 17:33:40 +0100Spanish Tourist Office hosts World Travel Market reception at Hispania http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spanish-tourist-office-hosts-world-travel-market-reception-at-hispania/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spanish-tourist-office-hosts-world-travel-market-reception-at-hispania/Last night, the Spanish Tourist Office in London hosted a media reception at new Spanish restaurant, Hispania, following the first day of World Travel Market.

Spain’s Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, Mr José Manuel Soria, and the head of the Spanish Tourist Office in London, Enrique Ruiz de Lera, were joined by over 200 media and tour operators. Mr Soria spoke proudly of Spain’s latest achievements in tourism and exciting plans for 2014, while Enrique Ruiz de Lera presented the tourist office's first iPad magazine, SPN.

Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed Spanish wines and tapas created by Hispania’s Michelin starred chef Marcos Morán. Hispania, located in east London was opened earlier this year by award winning Morán and serves typical Spanish tapas.

]]>Spain,Hispania,World,Travel,MarketTue, 05 Nov 2013 10:00:00 +0100Visit the Spanish Tourist Office at World Travel Market next weekhttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/visit-the-spanish-tourist-office-at-world-travel-market-next-week/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/visit-the-spanish-tourist-office-at-world-travel-market-next-week/The Spanish Tourist Office is gearing up for an exciting week at World Travel Market. From 4-7 November any media or travel trade heading to London's ExCel should pop by the stand to get news and updates from across the country.

The Spanish Tourist Office will be exibiting from stand number EM1300 and EM1350. On Monday 4th November the tourist board is holding a press conference from 1:30-2:30pm in North Gallery room 16/17. Mr Jose Manuel Soria, Spain’s Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism will be giving an update on Spain as a tourist destination, looking at key results for 2013 and initiatives for 2014, as well as launching SPN – a brand new iPad magazine and mobile app. If you'd like to attend, please email spain@lotus-uk.co.uk.

Travel Bulletin is a weekly magazine distributed to high street and home based travel agents, who are invited to vote for the companies they consider to be the best in 34 industry categories.

This is the seventh time that the work of the Spanish Tourist Office in London has been recognised by this prestigious travel industry title.

Nuria Guzman, deputy director of the Spanish Tourist Office collected the award in a ceremony held on Monday, October 7th at The Landmark London Hotel.

]]>Travel,Bulletin,Spanish,Tourist,Office,Award,Excellence,Nuria,GuzmanThu, 10 Oct 2013 20:06:52 +0200Glorious Ibiza Food (& Music!) launches http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/glorious-ibiza-food--music-launches-sid-shantis-homage-to-cookery-travel-and-music-in-ibiza/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/glorious-ibiza-food--music-launches-sid-shantis-homage-to-cookery-travel-and-music-in-ibiza/Sid Shanti’s homage to cookery, travel and music in IbizaIbiza private chef to the stars and one-time Manumission DJ, Sid Shanti, has channelled his love for Ibiza, food, music and travel into a beautiful new cookbook with a difference.

Glorious Ibiza Food (& Music!) is a sumptuous new cookery and travel book that showcases a very different side to this famous destination. Sid’s unique recipes are accompanied by stunning photography by Jordi Riera Cardona and take budding chefs on a gastronomic journey through this legendary destination. Highlights include Salt baked fish; Quick & easy wild Ibiza rabbit stew; Ibicencan rack of lamb with wild rosemary rub; Chargrilled courgettes, almond & mint salad, Sangria poached pears and many more.

In addition to cooking, readers can also learn from Sid’s first-hand guide to foraging in Ibiza, as well as the island’s best kept culinary secrets and traditions, including Sid’s own little black book of local foodie suppliers.

What’s more, readers are not left to cook and eat on their own. Instead, the inescapable beat of Ibiza rules with downloadable playlists designed for lunch and dinner featuring big names such as Pete Tong, Groove Armada and Carl Cox.

Glorious Ibiza Food (& Music!) is available to buy online from amazon.co.uk, at Harrods, Selfridges and all good bookshops. Signed copies can also be purchased from www.sidshanti.com/en

With three key sections including Theme Parks & Attractions, Water Parks and Animal Themed Parks, the new training programme offers a wealth of information to enable customers to pick the right type of leisure park for their holiday.

Ranging from aquatic adventures for water lovers, state-of-the-art theme parks for thrill seekers and relaxed animal parks for wildlife enthusiasts, the abundance of information will certainly inspire many of the 13 million British visitors that travel to Spain each year.

The training course also offers the chance to win a holiday for two to Benidorm, including flights, accommodation and a complimentary pass for up to three of the following leisure parks: Terra Mítica, Terra Natura, Aqua Natura, Aqualandia and Mundomar. Agents simply need to complete the training course before 15th August for their chance to win.

]]>travel,agents,TTG,OTT,theme,parks,leisure,holidays,trade,online,trainingTue, 23 Jul 2013 11:41:00 +0200Benicàssim opens its doors for four days of festival madnesshttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/benicassim-opens-its-doors-for-four-days-of-festival-madness/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/benicassim-opens-its-doors-for-four-days-of-festival-madness/This year's FlB (Benicàssim International Festival) starts today and runs until 21 July. Queens Of The Stone Age, Beady Eye, Primal Scream, Arctic Monkeys and The Killers will all be headlining on the Maravillas stage over the next four days.

On top of that, this year's festival features more than 80 concerts and DJ sessions across three stages plus a range of services including camping pitches and food outlets. While the festival itself lasts four days, ticket holders can camp under the Spanish sunshine for up to eight days.

Benicàssim is on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, only a few kilometres from Castellón, in the heart of the Plana Alta region. Lying beneath the mountains of the Desert de les Palmes nature reserve, it has an enviable climate plus some spectacular beaches, including Voramar, Almadraba, Sant Vicent, Els Terrers and Heliópolis.

]]>Social,Media,,Spanish,Tourist,Office,Travel,Benic&agrave;ssim,FestivalThu, 18 Jul 2013 12:34:09 +0200Spanish Tourist Office re-launches www.spain.infohttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spanish-tourist-office-re-launches-wwwspaininfo/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spanish-tourist-office-re-launches-wwwspaininfo/Today, the Spanish Tourist Office re-launches its official tourism website www.spain.info.The new look site aims to respond to the needs of the visitor and become an essential tool for planning a holiday to Spain right through from the initial inspiration stage, to making bookings and sharing holiday experiences with other users.

The site offers a step-by-step plan to create the ideal holiday to Spain with more than 47,000 online references encompassing beaches, monuments, museums, culture, gastronomy and festivals.

In order to find the ideal holiday, the visitor is directed to answer some simple questions about what kind of holiday they are looking for, in terms of location and activity. There are also holiday suggestions based on the type of tourist (i.e. family, couple, LGBT etc) and geographical preferences.

The new design of www.spain.info has been formulated with the end user in mind, making it as easy as possible for visitors to find what they are looking for with the least amount of clicks. The fresh design uses block colours and offers a clean functional and modern layout.

As well as connecting to all major social channels, the new website allows each article or reference to be shared but also allows guests to share their experiences by uploading comments, images or videos, allowing other viewers to benefit and seek inspiration from real reader reviews.

For the first time, the site offers a booking function allowing users to book flights, trains and car rental as well as accommodation or activities, making it a one-stop-shop for travellers to Spain.

Finally, a range of useful Spain travel apps will also be listed to ensure everything has been taken care of ahead of departure.

]]>Spanish,Tourist,Office,Digital,News,Travel,Website,RelaunchTue, 25 Jun 2013 14:45:56 +0200Food and Travel Magazine’s Essential Spain guidehttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/food-and-travel-magazines-essential-spain-guide/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/food-and-travel-magazines-essential-spain-guide/Monday 3 June saw the launch of Food and Travel Magazine’s fantastic new “Essential Spain – top 100 experiences” guide. Distributed with the July issue of Food and Travel, the new guide features 50 pages packed with the very best food and wine experiences across Spain and is the perfect source of inspiration for any foodie.

From the rich fabadas of Asturias and the filling bocadillos de calamares in Madrid, to zingy papas con mojo in the Canary Islands and Michelin-starred pintxos in the Basque Country, the booklet is packed to bursting with mouthwatering ideas.

Designed as a collaboration between Food and Travel Magazine’s expert writers and the Spanish Tourist Office’s inside knowledge, the guide traverses the whole gamut of Spanish gastronomy, taking in regional produce, markets, wines, deserts, seafood, acclaimed chefs and the country’s very best culinary encounters.

100 lucky subscribers to Food and Travel Magazine were treated to some of the delicious tastes from the guide at a special reader event on Monday, when the guide was launched officially at Pizarro in London’s Bermondsey.

Food and Travel Magazine’s deputy editor, Alicia Miller, rightfully commented, “this 100-point bucket list is only the tip of the iceberg – get out to Spain yourself, and get eating” and we very much hope it will inspire people to do just that.

]]>Food,and,Travel,Magazine,Essential,Spain,Spanish,Tourist,Office,Spanish,Food,Jose,PizarroFri, 07 Jun 2013 18:55:28 +0200Spanish Urban Beach Popped Up in Glasgowhttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spanish-urban-beach-to-pop-up-in-glasgow/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spanish-urban-beach-to-pop-up-in-glasgow/Glasgow may be land-locked, but on Saturday and Sunday 18th-19th May, the city’s residents and visitors enjoyed a pop-up urban beach right in the heart of the city.

Created by the Costa Blanca Tourist Board in collaboration with leisure airline Jet2.com and the Spanish Tourist Office, the weekend of 18th and 19th May saw Glasgow’s Buchanan Street transformed into a summer sanctuary of activity, all themed around the Costa Blanca, located on Spain’s Mediterranean coastline.

Visitors to the urban beach were invited to escape typical daily life and sample the sights, sounds and tastes that best reflect the Costa Blanca with live music, family games and delicious ice creams.

The entrance to the beach was in the form of an airport entrance gateway replicating a Jet2.com check-in desk and transported visitors to the sunny sands of the Costa Blanca. Boarding cards were also issued offering the chance to win a holiday for two with Jet2.com.

“With 2012 being one of the wettest years on record, we wanted to create a summer atmosphere in Glasgow city centre and remind the Scots that the warm beaches of the Costa Blanca are just 2.3h away with Jet2.com”, says Enrique Ruiz de Lera, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office in London.

The free attraction gave Scots a chance to enjoy a day on the beach without dipping into their wallets whilst discovering some of the many attractions of the Costa Blanca.

Jet2 offers flights from just £40 one way including taxes.

A great weekend was had by all, thank you to everyone who paid a visit to the Costa Blanca in Glasgow!

]]>Spanish,Tourist,Office,News,Travel,Costa,Blanca,Tourist,Board,Jet2,Holidays,Pop-up,beach,Glasgow,ScotlandMon, 20 May 2013 18:07:11 +0200El Celler de Can Roca named the world's top restauranthttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/el-celler-de-can-roca-named-the-worlds-top-restaurant/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/el-celler-de-can-roca-named-the-worlds-top-restaurant/Avant-garde eatery El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, was granted the No. 1 spot on Restaurant Magazine's annual ranking of the world's 50 best restaurants during a ceremony in London on Monday.

The three Michelin-starred El Celler de Can Roca run by the three Roca brothers – Josep, Jordi and Joan, took the number one spot from innovative Danish restaurant Noma that has held the honour for the past three years after claiming the title from Spanish restaurant elBulli in 2010.

Ranked No. 2 in 2011 and 2012, El Celler opened in 1986 and has since been known for dishes that blend innovative cooking techniques with traditional ingredients, such as lobster parmentier with black trumpets and Iberian suckling pig with pepper sauce and garlic and quince terrine.

El Celler de Can Roca has also recently announced ground breaking plans for a culinary opera called Somni.

Somni, which translates to dream, will be a dynamic multi-sensory private dining experience with food and drink, video, robots, music and card games, as reported in the Spanish newspaper El País.

The brothers first announced the project in June last year with food website FineDiningLovers.com revealing that the restaurant would be a special igloo-shaped venue in El Celler’s basement.

]]>News,Travel,food,El,Celler,de,Can,Roca,Girona,Spain,world&#039;s,50,best,restaurants,Restaurant,MagazineTue, 30 Apr 2013 16:40:39 +0200Spanish rail company Renfe cuts AVE fares by 11%http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spanish-rail-company-renfe-cuts-ave-fares-by-11-/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spanish-rail-company-renfe-cuts-ave-fares-by-11-/ Spain’s national rail operator Renfe has dropped its ticket prices for AVE long distance rail journeys by 11% in a bid to increase occupancy and make the AVE rail network more accessible to travellers.

The 11% price drop took effect yesterday Friday 8th February, attracting a surge of traffic to the booking site. In the first few hours, in excess of 33,000 tickets were purchased, representing a 56% increase compared to the same period for the previous day and web visits doubled compared to the previous Friday.

In line with the price drop, Renfe also announced a new system of discounted pre-purchase seats for AVE rail journeys which together with planned promotions throughout the year will result in possible discounts of up to 70%.

Further initiatives include the planned introduction of a young person’s rail card, scheduled to launch on 1st March offering rail card holders 30% discounts on AVE journeys. This will be followed by a multi-purchase initiative, allowing passengers to piece together certain sections of the AVE network, with discounts of 20% for each journey.

In the first 11 months of 2012, Renfe carried 20.63 million travellers on its long distance AVE services according to data from the Ministry of Development (Ministerio del Fomento), representing a fall of 1.8% compared to the previous year.]]>RENFE,AVE,TRAINS,RAIL,SPAIN,DISCOUNTS,TRAVELSat, 09 Feb 2013 15:39:35 +0100Carnival fever hits Cadizhttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/carnival-fever-hits-cadiz/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/carnival-fever-hits-cadiz/ Due to take place between February 7 and 17 this year, Cadiz carnival is a huge street party, with gastronomic events, fireworks, fancy dress, parades and street performances.

The two most important parades are the Gran Cabalgata, on the first Sunday of the feria, and the Cabalgata del Humor, which takes place on the last weekend. Both events attract thousands of dressed up spectators who get involved as they make their way through the old town.

Agrupaciones - choirs of up to 40 singers - and chirigotas - satirical musical groups - also take part in the Fallas Contest, the music festival held in the Gran Teatro Falla ahead of the carnival.

In the run-up to the party they practise their humurous songs, often poking fun at politicians and current affairs, at open air events across the city, creating a sense of anticipation throughout the month.

The Grand Final is then held on the first Friday of carnival and lasts until the following morning.

The Cadiz Carnival is said to have started in the 16th Century as sailors from the port city returned from Genoa and Venice with tales of their carnival celebrations. Now the Cadiz event is so famous it has been declared to be of International Tourist Interest.

Tourists visiting during the colourful street party are encouraged to dress up and join in as much as the locals, although booking accommodation in advance is essential, due to its popularity.

]]>Spain,Cadiz,Carnival,Travel,Tourism,CelebrationMon, 28 Jan 2013 23:39:36 +0100Discover the hidden gems of Spain on horseback with Equiberia http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/discover-the-hidden-gems-of-spain-on-horseback-with-equiberia/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/discover-the-hidden-gems-of-spain-on-horseback-with-equiberia/ Equiberia has been creating horse riding holidays around the most picturesque areas of Spain since 1996. Each ride has been tailor made to capture the lesser known and best preserved areas of Spain.

The trips offer something for every type of traveller; get up close to nature and the beautifully trained horses, try new flavours of local wines and cuisines and experience the life and traditions of a different culture in Spain’s many regions.

For 2013, Equiberia will offer four different rides in Castilla and León, three rides in the Sierra de Gredos, Avila, one ride in Segovia, as well as rides in Menorca. New rides will also be introduced in Andalucia in the Sevilla-Doñana region.

A great itinerary for summer 2013 is the ‘Sierra de Gredos Summer Ride’. This seven night package gives riders the opportunity to explore the Gredos Mountains as well as the alpine valleys and mountain gorges. Taking place in July and August, the trip is priced from £1,510 on an all-inclusive basis, excluding international flights but including domestic transportation.

For those looking for a coastal trail, the ‘Unknown Views of Menorca’ is a six night package exploring the Camí de Cavalls alongside the Balearic turquoise waters, giving riders unique access to the unspoilt Menorca coast. Taking place from March until November, the trip is priced from £1,550 on an all-inclusive basis, excluding international flights but including domestic transportation.

On January 22nd, Equiberia in partnership with Ride World Wide will be hosting a special event at the Cavalry and Guards Club (www.cavgds.co.uk) in Mayfair, which is kindly supported by Gonzalez Byass. The evening will consist of Tio Pepe sherry and Iberico ham tasting, a presentation of the Equiberia 2013 programme followed by networking and a selection of wines and tapas.

]]>Spanish,Travel,Equiberia,Horseriding,Horses,Holiday,summer,Sierra,de,Grados,Menorca,Balearics,Cam&iacute;,de,Cavalls,Ride,World,Wide,SpFri, 18 Jan 2013 13:29:39 +0100Learn Spanish in 2013 – WIN a Spanish course at the Instituto Cervanteshttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/learn-spanish-in-2013-a-win-a-spanish-course-at-the-instituto-cervantes/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/learn-spanish-in-2013-a-win-a-spanish-course-at-the-instituto-cervantes/ Learning Spanish is a popular New Years’ resolution so we have teamed up with the Instituto Cervantes in London to offer one lucky winner a kick start with a 30 hour Spanish course or a 20 hour specialised course (or an online course with tutor support).

The Instituto Cervantes in London offers a range of comprehensive Spanish language courses aimed at developing students’ ability to understand, speak, read and write in Spanish.

The definitive guide was created by Monocle’s travel experts and details the 100 top places to visit, eat at and experience in Spain. The top picks range from visiting the Temple of Diana in Merida to riding wooden bikes through the Basque region and a tapas crawl in Seville, among other exciting projects. The Spain 100 were carefully chosen by Monocle on a year long expedition through Spain uncovering the latest trends and interviewing the personalities spearheading them. They also came home with a lifetime supply of jamon.

The guide is a part of Spain’s third annual partnership with Monocle, as the publication and destination have a natural chemistry. Every element of the launch party celebrated Spain with Spanish wine and delicacies from the award winning restaurant, Iberica.

Brúlé declared his passion for the country saying, "I love Spain, I love Japan, and that's it! " For Brúlé it’s the virtues of winter sun which make Spain such a fantastic destination, recounting a conversation with "the godfather of branding" Wally Ollins who will spend his Christmas holidays this year in the Canaries.

]]>Spain,Monocle,Spain100,Travel,Tyler,Br&uacute;l&eacute;,Enrique,Ruiz,de,Lera,Merida,SevilleThu, 22 Nov 2012 18:01:53 +0100The Spanish Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism highlights that British visitor numbers to Spain this year exceed 11 million.http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/the-spanish-minister-of-industry-energy-and-tourism-highlights-that-british-visitor-numbers-to-spain-this-year-exceed-11-million/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/the-spanish-minister-of-industry-energy-and-tourism-highlights-that-british-visitor-numbers-to-spain-this-year-exceed-11-million/
In the first nine months of the year British tourism expenditure in Spain increases by 8% to 9.2 million euros.

British tourists demonstrate their loyalty to Spain with 85% being returning visitors and 42% having visited ten or more times. No other destination demonstrates such repetition.

For WTM 2012, Spanish exhibitors account for more than 2,870m2, with the Spanish Tourist Office (Turespaña) accounting for 1,001m2, with 62 participating exhibitors.

]]> The Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, Jose Manuel Soria has visited the XXXIII edition of World Travel Market (WTM), accompanied by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Borrego.

The Minister has underlined the government’s objective to reduce public deficit, through a series of measures which have been developed over the last ten months to re-ignite the Spanish economy.

In terms of tourism to Spain the Minister has underlined the importance of the National Tourism Plan (Plan Nacional e Integral de Turismo (PNIT)), which was approved on 22 June as a tool to improve the competitiveness of Spain as a tourism destination and to consolidate their current position as a global leader in this field.

After the press conference the Minister visited all the Spanish exhibitors accompanied by the Secretary of State reinforcing his support for Spanish tourism at one of the world’s most important tourism fairs.

British tourists in Spain

Spain continues to be the UK’s favourite holiday destination. From January to September 2012, more than 11.2 million UK tourists visited Spain, representing a 1.1% year on year increase, accounting for 23.9% of all tourists to Spain. The Canaries, Balearics and Andalucia have been the most popular destinations.

The predictions for future growth are encouraging. This winter, Spain has seen an increase in package holiday bookings from 30.3% to 31.6% and for summer 2013, forward bookings for package holidays are in line with the highs of summer 2012.

One of the most significant results for 2012 is the 8% increase in tourism expenditure between January and September 2012, representing an increased spend of 9.2 million euros. This is in line with the objectives of the National Tourism Plan of increasing tourism expenditure.

The average daily spend of the UK visitor in Spain is 93.5 euros, up 10.1% year on year, with an average spend per visitor of 821.39 euros and an average stay of 8.8 days according to the EGATUR survey published by the Institute of Tourism Studies (Instituto de Estudios Turísticos (IET)).

The loyalty of British visitors to Spain remains high with 85% returning after a previous visit and 42% having visited ten times or more. There is no other overseas destination with such a high level of repetition.

More than 42% of the travellers from the UK to Spain fly from London airports with summer charter connections from Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Leeds.

Traditionally, British tourists have organised their trip to Spain through an operator, which today accounts for 45% of total holidays, with 68% citing leisure holidays as their main motive for travel.

15% of tourists highlighted their motivation for travelling to Spain as visiting families and friends whilst 14% visited Spain for business purposes, Four star hotels turned out to be the most frequent accommodation of choice of the British traveller.

The British tourism market to Spain continues to grow although there is a tendency for tourists to take shorter trips. In terms of average stay British tourists stay in Spain for 8.6 days, which has generated demand for new products and destinations and opens up the market to new sectors such as rural tourism.

Turespaňa at World Travel Market

World Travel Market celebrates its XXXIII edition this year with more than 150 countries participating, 40,000 tourism professionals and more than 3000 media attendees.

New for 2012, the Balearic Islands will join forces with Turespaňa sharing their stand, whilst Andalucia, the Canary Islands, Catalonia, Comunidad Valenciana and Andalusia are exhibiting independently.

]]>Spanish,Tourism,World,Travel,Market,2012,Press,ConferenceMon, 05 Nov 2012 11:12:00 +0100Spanish Tourist Office Launches Pioneering Social News Hubhttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spanish-tourist-office-launches-pioneering-social-news-hub/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/spanish-tourist-office-launches-pioneering-social-news-hub/The Spanish National Tourist Office in London has launched a pioneering social news hub; a robust cloud-hosted social media news platform which incorporates all existing and new social media channels in just one place.

The Social News Hub which is the first of its kind for the UK travel industry is connected to over 323 social channels and offers a wide range of services for users such as regularly updated news content, downloadable copy and images, quotes, links, polls and video links.

The objective of the Social News Hub is to create a one stop shop for content which makes the most of the latest social media channels in a tangible and trackable way as well as hosting fresh and newsworthy content. The hub will be updated on an ongoing basis and will provide inspiring content as well as downloadable images, videos and other useful documents.

Created with traditional and new media in mind, the Spanish Tourist Office hopes that the Social News Hub will become the ‘go to’ resource for all those interested in communicating about travel to Spain, as well as Spanish culture and happenings. Likewise, the newsroom will publish content provided by external contributors from bloggers to established travel writers.

Enrique Ruiz de Lera, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office in London, explains the concept:

]]>Social,Media,,Spanish,Tourist,Office,Digital,News,TravelFri, 02 Nov 2012 11:12:00 +0100Ski holidays to Andalucia open up to the UK market with a new direct flighthttp://socialnewsroom.spain.info/ski-holidays-to-andalucia-open-up-to-the-uk-market-with-a-new-direct-flight/
http://socialnewsroom.spain.info/ski-holidays-to-andalucia-open-up-to-the-uk-market-with-a-new-direct-flight/ Brits will have an even wider choice of ski destinations this winter following the announcement that Hispania Airways is launching a direct flight from London Gatwick to Granada, which is just 40 minutes from Sierra Nevada, Europe’s most southerly ski resort.

The new Hispania Airways (www.hispania-airways.com) route will fly twice weekly from London Gatwick to Granada on Mondays and Fridays with the inaugural flight on 7 December. The airline will allow 20 kilograms of luggage and ski equipment free of charge.

The flight has launched in response to high demand from the UK market for ski holidays in Andalucia, with statistics showing that 61.6% of foreign skiers in Sierra Nevada in 2011 were from the UK. The resort’s popularity follows a three year regeneration project. The resort now has over 100 kilometres of pistes, one of the largest terrain parks in southern Europe with a new half pipe, improved access to ski lifts and a family and beginners ski area.